Carpet-plucker.



J. C. OWENS. CARPET PLUGKER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 19, 1911.

SHEET 1.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911. 2 mm- Zz as" @fierc an $23 COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0.,wASH1Nr-TON, D. c.

TINT ST ems.

OARPET-PLUCKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER G. OWENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Pluckers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements over my original form of carpet plucker as shown and described in my application for Letters Patent filed November 11th, 1909, and bearing Serial No. 527,424; and the present invention consists in certain improvements over the older form of device whereby the plucker is made more efficient in its action and better adapted to a long continued use.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved plucker. Fig. 2 is a partial central section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 and illustrating in enlarged detail the construction of the plucking mechanism. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the feed mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a detail section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In the drawings 5 designates a suitable base which carries on its front lower portion a set of ways 6. In these ways a table frame 7 is adapted to move vertically, moving downwardly by its own weight and being pulled upwardly-by means of a cord or chain 9 passing over a pulley 8 and downwardly to any desired form of foot pedal or its equivalent. Table frame 7 has a horizontal way 10 therein in which is carried carpet table 11. Carpet table 11 is comparatively long and narrow and slides longitudinally in the table frame. Table 11 carries a carpet securing frame 12 hinged at 12 to the table, this frame 12 having a central aperture 13 through which the carpet is accessible to the plucking mechanism.

Table 11 and frame 12 carry members 14 having serrated edges which project into the carpet placed between the table and frame and a set of pins 14 which project through the carpet and into grooves 15. The edge of the carpet to be plucked is placed between the table and the carpet securing frame, the frame being raised by Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 19, 1911.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911. Serial No. 622,037.

means of handles 16. The whole arrangement is then raised into proximity with the plucking mechanism, the table being fed forwardly (longitudinally) as the plucking operation proceeds. This forward feed is provided by a rack 20 mounted on frame 12 and engaging with a pinion 21 when the frame is raised to the plucking position. Pinion 21 is mounted on a shaft 22 which extends through the machine and is suitably driven by a mechanism located on the rear side of the machine. A. set of speed reducing gears 30 is employed, one gear 30 being secured to shaft 22, while another gear 30 at the other end of the gear train, is rotatively secured'to sleeve 31. These gears act in a manner similar to the back gears of a lathe. Sleeve 31 is rotated from ratchet wheel 32.

The arrangement for connecting or dis connecting the sleeve from the ratchet wheel is illustrated in Fig. 7. Ratchet wheel 32 has a hub 32 through which a spring pressed pin 33 passes to enter an aperture 34 in sleeve 31. By pulling pin 33 outwardly and turning the pin so that a small stud 35 will rest upon the surface of hub 32*, the ratchet wheel and sleeve are entirely disconnected. A small head 36 is mounted on pin 33 to facilitate this operation. Ratchet wheel 32 is rotated by the action of a pawl 40 supported on a radius frame 41 which has a portion 41 surrounding hubs 32 Pawl 40 is actuated by an eccentric 42 adjustably mounted on drive wheel 43 by means of a pair of spring pressed pins 44. Pins 44 are adapted to enter apertures 45, and the pins and apertures are so arranged that when one pin is entered in its aperture the eccentric will be placed to have a minimum throw, while with the other pin in its aperture a maximum throw will be obtained. Provision is thus made for slow and fast feed of the carpet under the plucking mechanism. Eccentric 42 and wheel 43 are mounted on main shaft 50 of the machine. This shaft is mounted in bearings 51 and carries a balance wheel 52 between the bearings. On its forward end the shaft carries a crank 53 through the medium of which the plucking mechanism is operated.

The plucking mechanism is constructed principally along the lines of my origlnal invention, operating in much the same manner. The mechanism consists mainly of a slider frame sliding vertically in ways 61 provided on extensions 62 f1 om the frame of the machine. This frame, 63 is hollow (for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth) and is mounted directly on base 5. Slider frame 60 carries two pivots 60 at its lower end, on which pivots are mounted plucker bars 6 1. These plucker bars have upwardly extending arms 645", one on each side of slider frame 60. Arms 64? are joined together at their upper ends by toggles 65, the toggles being so proportioned that they never pass above the horizontal line connecting their centers of attachment to arms 64*. A pin 66 passes through the toggles and connects them together, yoke 67 also being attached to pin 66. Yoke 67 forms a part of adjustable connecting rod 68 which connects with crank 53. Mounted on slider frame 60 are side plates 69 which have ver tical slots 70 engaging the ends of pins 66. It is thus provided that the connecting rod motion is not all imparted to the slider frame, pin 66 being allowed a free motion to the extent represented by the length of slots 70. The" proportions of the various parts are so adjusted that when pin 66 is at the upper ends of slots 70, plucker members 64: at the lower ends of bars 6 1 will be pressed tightly together to grip the nap of a carpet. hen the pin is at the lower ends of the slot, the plucker members will be separated so as to pass over and around the nap preliminarily to gripping the same.

When the machine is in operation, pin 66 is imparted a regular vertical reciprocating motion. Beginning with the position illustrated in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the first operation is to lower the pin with reference to the slider frame and to thus open the plucker members. \Vith the plucker members open, the frame, carrying the plucker members is then forced downwardly until pin 66 reaches the end of its reciprocal stroke; the plucker members are still open. When pin 66 begins its upward stroke, the first action is to close the plucker members and then, when the pin reaches the upper ends of slots 70, to raise the slider frame to its original position. The foregoing statement of operation is based on the assumption that there is some little frictional retardance to the movement of the slider frame. This is provided through the medium of a spring pressedtfriction block kept in engagement with the slider frame by a spring 76 and an adjustable pressure screw 77. When the friction is comparatively great, the action will be as above described and the slider frame will only move downwardly to a point where it is impelled by the direct action of pin 66. When the friction is relieved, the slider frame will. move on downwardly by its own momentum after pin 66 has come to the lower end of its stroke. The plucker members are thus carried downwardly as they are closed and finally closed at a point as far down as possible. This is desirable Where a short nap is being removed; but with a long nap it is desirable to have the plucker members close at a higher point. By adjusting screw 7 7 the operation may be made to suit different classes of carpets.

Mounted on each of frame extensions 62, and adjustably secured by means of set screws 80 and bolts 81, is a block 82 which carries rollers 83 and guards 84:. Rollers 83 are in such a position as to press downwardly on carpet securing frame 12 when the carpet table and frame are brought up to position. Guards 81 project downwardly into aperture 13 in the carpet securing frame and cover all portions of the carpet directly under the plucking mechanism with the exception of that portion immediately beneath the plucker members or grippers. The inner and upper surfaces of these guards may be provided with a facing of blotting paper or the like for catching and holding any oil which might otherwise drop on the carpet.

Directly behind the grippers is a nozzle 90 which points directly outwardly past and between the grippers and connects with the interior of the frame 63. Air is compressed in the frame by a blower 91 mounted below base 5 and having a shaft 92 which forms the counter-shaft for the machine. The blower is connected by pipes 93 to the interior of frame 63, and, being continuously operated, forces a stream of air out through nozzle 90 with the effect of blowing away from the grippers all the nap which has been pulled from the carpet. Counter-shaft 92 has a belt wheel 94 which is connected by belt 95 to wheel 43 on the main shaft of the machine. A pair of tight and loose pulleys 96 and 97 provide means for drivingthe whole machine.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown in detail the method of mounting the plucker members so as to be removable; and I have shown in Fig. 9 a plucker member 64 of lesser effective width than those shown elsewhere. The plucker members fit into slots 100 in bars 64 and are themselves provided with slots 101 engaging pins 102 (the pins being permanently set in bar 64;) in such manner that the members may be removed by moving longitudinally and then downwardly. When in the position shown the plucker members are tightly held in position by spring clips 103 which engage their ends. Spring guards 104E prevent the clips from being drawn back so far as to be broken.

It will be seen that there are various features of improvement overmy original form of machine. The principal one of these is the provision of friction controlling means for the slider frame. This renders a single machine adaptable for carpets having both short and long nap. Another improvement resides in the construct-ion and method of handling the carpet carrying devices. The present arrangement for throwing the carpet supporting table down and out of engagement with the plucking mechanism provides for easy access and facilitates the insertion and withdrawal of the carpet.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A carpet plucker, comprising a means for supporting and feeding a carpet, a slider frame adapted to move to and from the carpet, frictional means to retard the movement of the slider frame, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on the slider frame, a pair of links pivoted to the ends of the grippers and to each other, a loose connec tion between the slider frame and the pivotal connection of the two links, and means to impart a reciprocating movement to the pivotal connection of the two links.

2. A carpet plucker, comprising a frame, vertical ways on the frame, a carpet supporting table mounted in the vertical ways, the table having a horizontal movement in itself, a plucker mechanism comprising a pair of grippers, means to move the grippers bodily in a vertical direction and horizontally to and from each other, and means engageable by the carpet supporting table when in its uppermost position to feed the table horizontally and simultaneously with the operation of the plucker mechanism.

3. A carpet plucker, comprising a frame, vertical ways on the frame, a table frame mounted to move in the vertical ways, a table mounted on the table frame and having a horizontal movement thereon, a gear rack on the table, a plucker mechanism arranged above the table, a pinion with which the gear rack engages when the table is raised into proximity with the plucker mechanism, and connective mechanism whereby the pinion and plucker mechanism are operated simultaneously.

4:. A carpet plucker, comprising a means for supporting and feeding a carpet, a slider frame adapted to move to and from the carpet, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on the slider frame, frictional means to retard the movement of the slider frame, a pair of links pivoted to the ends of the grippers and to each other, means to impart a reciprocating movement to the pivotal connection of the links, and means to discharge a current of air across the upper portion of the path of the grippers.

5. A carpet plucker, comprising a means for supporting and feeding a carpet, a slider frame adapted to move to and from the carpet, frictional means to retard the movement of the slider frame, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on the slider frame, said grippers being provided with removable plucker members, a pair of links pivoted to the ends of the grippers and to each other, a loose connection between the slider frame and the pivotal connection of the two links, and means to impart a reciprocating motion to the pivotal connection of the two links.

6. A carpet plucker, comprising a frame, vertical ways on the frame, a table frame mounted to move in the vertical ways, a table mounted on the table frame and having a horizontal movement thereon, a plucker mechanism arranged on the frame above the table, means adjustably mounted on the frame adjacent the plucker mechanism with which the table is adapted to engage to limit its upward movement, and means engageable by thetable when in its uppermost position to feed the table horizontally and simultaneously with the operation of the plucker mechanism.

7. A carpet plucker, comprising a frame, vertical ways on the frame, a carpet supporting table mounted on the vertical ways, the table having a horizontal movement in itself, a plucker mechanism mounted on the frame and comprising a vertically movable slider frame, a pair of grippers pivotally mounted on the slider frame, a pair of links pivoted to the ends of the grippers and to each other, and means to impart a reciprocating motion to the pivotal connection of the links, a gear rack on the carpet supporting table, a pinion with which the gear rack engages when the table is raised into proximity with the plucker mechanism, connective mechanism whereby the pinion and plucker mechanism are operated simultaneously, and rollers adjustably mounted on the frame and adapted to be engaged by the upper surface of the carpet support-ing table when the table is in its uppermost position.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th day of April 1911. I

JASPER C. OWENS.

WVitnesses:

JAMES T. BARKELEW, ELwooD H. BARKELEW.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

